The failure of the Reform Movement of 1898 made Zhang Yuanji realize that "any political reform imposed on the indifferent, lifeless and ignorant masses will inevitably be fruitless."
The Biography of Zhang Yuanji - The only way to cure the publishing giant is to gradually improve education, cultivate talents, spread new knowledge and change the atmosphere from the bottom up. Only this can provide a solid foundation for the reform. , and ultimately achieve social progress. This kind of self-reflection cultivated the ideological foundation for his later choice of publishing, which is closely related to education, as his lifelong career. In October 1898, Zhang Yuanji, who was demoted, left the capital. On the recommendation of Li Hongzhang, he came to Shanghai, the "hub of new learning", and served as the dean of the Translation School of Nanyang Public School. His main job was to translate and publish Western learning. books. This gave him the opportunity to meet Xia Ruifang, the founder of the Commercial Press, who was looking for printing business everywhere, and the two hit it off.
Things in the world are full of chance and necessity. If it weren't for Xia Ruifang's desire to borrow from intellectuals, and if Zhang Yuanji's thoughts hadn't changed, their encounter would not have contributed to the rise of the Commercial Press, a major town in the modern publishing industry. In 1902, at Xia Ruifang's warm invitation, Zhang Yuanji resolutely resigned from Nanyang Public School and worked at the Commercial Press. The arrival of Zhang Yuanji established a new direction for the development of early business. The main business of commerce gradually changed from printing to publishing, and gradually included other education-related undertakings, such as setting up schools, establishing libraries, making teaching aids and equipment, shooting movies, etc. Zhang Yuanji's personal status and reputation also brought huge author resources to the business. In close contact with the intellectual, political, and especially educational circles, the business has soared many famous collaborators. Some commentators say that this is a rare example of successful cooperation between traditional scholar-officials and the working class, literati and businessmen in modern times.
Zhang Yuanji "takes supporting education as his own responsibility", and the first job he did when he came to the Commercial Press was to compile teaching materials suitable for modern education. At the beginning of the 20th century, new schools were established one after another, but the problem that followed was the extreme shortage of teachers and teaching materials. Zhang Yuanji had experience in running Tongyi School and Nanyang Public School. His sensitivity to the current situation enabled him to decisively seize the opportunity and promote the compilation of textbooks with educational enthusiasm and professional awareness. The "latest" series of textbooks he presided over and compiled greatly promoted China's educational innovation at that time with its perfect content and form. It was this set of textbooks that aimed at universal education and was compiled in accordance with educational principles, which established the basic pattern of modern education in China. It is also this set of textbooks that are sold nationwide and printed again and again, establishing the dominant position of business in the publishing industry.
The success of textbooks made Zhang Yuanji more convinced of the significance of publishing in education, and also strengthened his belief that the Commercial Press would be his home. In 1904, Wang Kangnian told Zhang Yuanji that the Qing government planned to invite Zhang Yuanji to serve as a minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zhang Fuxin resigned, saying that he was in a solid mood after entering business: "I recently compiled primary school textbooks for the Commercial Press, and I quite claimed that I could dominate China." People's obligations. To put it bluntly, those who only talk on paper all day long are not at a higher level. "Similar resignations include those who resigned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Posts and Communications in 1913. Xiong Xiling was appointed Director-General of Education in the Cabinet; a similar expression was expressed in a letter to Cai Yuanpei in 1917: "Building publishing can improve the majority of the people, and it seems to be more important than educating a few talents." In Zhang Yuanji's mind, the Commercial Press has become his The focus of your career, the field of life and a good place to practice your ambitions.
Judging from Zhang Yuanji’s preserved diary, most of the recorded contents are indeed publishing matters, and they are quite trivial, ranging from formulating library rules, purchasing new machines, book sales and distribution, to someone Violations of discipline should be punished, etc., involving all aspects of business operations. Zhang Yuanji devoted himself to industry as a cultural person, and his identity as an industrialist made him avoid being "practical" and do everything down-to-earth. Therefore, Zhang Xichen said that he "does not have any bureaucratic habits. He always arrives early every day in the translation office He leaves late and works meticulously. He writes notes on scrap paper and often reuses an envelope more than three or four times."
Zhang Yuanji's transactional work style of "taking everything into account" and "taking every aspect into account" reflects his persistence in doing things. But at the same time, Zhang Yuanji also has a detached side. He is aware of his limitations, including limited energy and limited ideological resources. When the new May Fourth trend of thought was booming, he tried his best to keep up with the trend, but on the other hand, he was determined to retreat. According to his words, he was "avoiding the virtuous path." In the spring of 1920, at the age of fifty-five, he announced his resignation and retirement, leaving no room for negotiation. In his reply to Sun Zhuang and Sun Wei's letter, he talked about the fundamental motivation for his resignation: "...I have been in the company for decades and twenty years, and I am over fifty years old. I am not physically strong. How can I endure this drama forever? It is urgent to prepare replacements and cultivate new talents in order to plan for the long-term development of the company... Moreover, our brains are outdated and cannot respond to the world's trends. If we do not follow the wise path, it may not only be of no benefit to the company, but also be detrimental to the company. My brother couldn't bear that the company was in trouble and couldn't do what he wanted to do, so he resolutely resigned, thinking that it was just a matter of hope. "This "old plan" contains his conscious understanding of the progress of the times and embodies a historical link between the past and the future. The feelings of a traveler.
In 1926, according to traditional Chinese calculations, Zhang Yuanji was 60 years old. He resolutely resigned from his position as supervisor of the Commercial Press, officially retiring. Although he was elected chairman of the board of directors soon after and still served as an advisor on company affairs, he had more time to concentrate on his favorite work of collating and publishing ancient books. Photocopying of ancient books has long been something that Zhang Yuanji has paid attention to. As early as 1904, he built the Hanfen Building for the Commercial Press to collect ancient books and collected a large number of rare books. On the one hand, it provided version protection for commercial photocopying of ancient books, and on the other hand, it also rescued culture. Heritage, a valuable intention to prevent the documents of the mother country from flowing into foreign lands. Around 1920, the conditions for photocopying and publishing large ancient books gradually matured. Under the leadership of Zhang Yuanji, the Commercial Press promptly compiled and printed most ancient books such as "Secrets of Hanfenlou", "Sibu Series", and "Xuguyi Series" , winning a good reputation and considerable income for the Commercial Press. His role in it was not only an expert publisher, but also an outstanding edition scholar. He personally participated in the compilation of ancient books, showing a profound foundation in ancient studies in terms of edition and collation. After retiring from his position as supervisor in 1926, Zhang Yuanji devoted most of his energy to the troublesome and detailed work of editing, collating, editing, photocopying, and polishing the edition of "The Twenty-Four Histories". The book began to be published in 1930, but was temporarily interrupted due to the "January 28" Incident and was not completed until 1936. Its role as a link between the past and the future in the publication of history books is unquestionable. In August 1948, Zhang Yuanji was elected as the first academician of the then Academia Sinica, under the discipline of humanities and history. The reason for his election was that he had presided over the Commercial Press for decades, compiled and printed books such as the "Four Series", and proofread ancient historical books. , has made significant contributions to academics."
In 1936, Zhang Yuanji was 70 years old. Initiated by Cai Yuanpei, Hu Shi and Wang Yunwu, it collected the academic papers of more than 20 celebrities and scholars in the cultural circles at that time, compiled and printed the "Collection of Essays Commemorating Mr. Zhang Jusheng's 70th Birthday", and published this book in a special way. Happy birthday to the seniors in the world. In the "Call for Papers", Zhang Yuanji was called by his friends as "an old scholar rich in new ideas and an old gentleman who can practice new morals." This is a high-level summary of Zhang Yuanji's life's ideological character and cultural attitude. Be innovative but not aggressive, be moderate but not conservative. In this regard, Zhang Yuanji is quite similar to his good friend Cai Yuanpei. When Cai Yuanpei became the president of Peking University, he introduced new figures such as Hu Shi and Chen Duxiu. On the other hand, he allowed scholars from all walks of life to work together under the school's policy of "freedom of thought and inclusiveness" and established a unique model for Peking University. A cultural and spiritual environment that is eager for quick success but conducive to academic and personality development has created a new era of modern Chinese academics and thought.
Zhang Yuanji has been in charge of the Commercial Translation and Translation Institute for many years. When he vigorously introduced new people and formulated publishing policies, he also paid attention to the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. He not only paid attention to the translation and introduction of Western cultural academic thoughts, but also focused on the arrangement of traditional classics, new and old, Chinese and Western, They exist side by side in the publication structure of the Commercial Press, which gives the Commercial Press a unique and tolerant grandeur, and thus leads a new direction in the construction of a new publishing culture. These two most important academic and cultural institutions in the south and the north, one as the highest university in China and the other as the largest bookstore in China, together laid the foundation of China's modern new culture. Among the successive presidents of Jiaotong University, the second president Zhang Yuanji is a figure with legendary experience and has made great contributions to education and culture as well as the preservation and dissemination of the motherland’s culture.
In early 1899, shortly after Zhang Yuanji arrived in Shanghai, he accepted the invitation of Sheng Xuanhuai and served as the dean of the Translation School of Nanyang Public School (the predecessor of the current Jiaotong University) (according to Zhang Yuanji, Sheng Xuanhuai invited him because of Li Hongzhang's recommendation) ). Since then, Zhang Yuanji began his more than three years of work at Nanyang Public School. When Nanyang Public School's Translation College was founded, it was located in Hongkou, and moved to Tilanqiao in the autumn of the same year. Zhang Yuanji has presided over the compilation of physics textbooks: "The Classical Reader" by Mordan from the United Kingdom, and "The Secondary Classical Reader" co-authored by France's Paul Perpet and the British Paul Birdey; books on history include "The History of Commerce of All Nations" by the British Sommers ", "History of British Civilization" by Brooke Buckley, "History of the Constitution of the United States" by Yasukuni Matsudaira of Japan, etc. Practical science includes several books such as "Social Statistics".
At the beginning of 1901, Zhang Yuanji concurrently served as the acting prime minister of the public school. After taking over, he devoted himself to the preparation of special classes in public schools. Zhang Yuanji personally presided over the admissions examination for the special class. He took a written test first and then an interview. He selected 42 students, all of whom were in their twenties and thirties and had a considerable foundation in Chinese literature.
Zhang Yuanji Statue Zhang Yuanji attaches great importance to teachers and believes that a special class that is experimental and top-notch must have first-class teachers. At that time, Zhang's old friend Cai Yuanpei came to Shanghai from Shaoxing. Although Cai did not participate in the reform activities like Zhang, he was sympathetic to the reformists. He believed that Kangliang failed because he did not cultivate innovative talents in advance and attempted to replace the power with a few people. This was the reason for the failure. This view is consistent with Zhang. So Zhang asked Cai to be the special class teacher, and the two hit it off. The special class hired Wang Zhouyao and Zhao Congfan as teachers.
During his tenure at Nanyang Public School, especially when he was acting prime minister, Zhang Yuanji had a heavy workload and long and time-consuming travel. He usually stayed at the school and rarely went home. He often talks directly to students and asks them about their homework. After Cai Yuanpei took office, he also stayed on campus, and the two often talked all night long.
Ping Hailan, a student of Nanyang Public School at that time, later recalled Zhang Yuanji’s time at Nanyang Public School: Mr. Zhang worked hard to govern, which was really good. He loves studying knowledge very much and encourages his husband to read new books. For example, we originally read old books such as "Historical Records", "Hanshu", "Zi Zhi Tong Jian", "Yupi Tong Jian Collection", etc. He changed it and taught us to read Yan Fu's "Yuan Fu". His teaching method is to read it once, read it for several pages, and answer it immediately. So how can we children answer it? We read "The Original Rich" at the age of thirteen or fourteen! It can be seen from this recollection that Zhang Yuanji worked hard at Nanyang Public School and reformed the content and form of teaching, with the purpose of cultivating students' modern consciousness and patriotic thoughts.
Later, because his ideas on running schools were inconsistent with those of the American superintendent, Fu Kaisen, in May and June 1901, he asked Sheng Xuanhuai to resign, but was not accepted. In August, he resigned as prime minister. , full-time dean of the Translation College. In 1903, Nanyang Public School was short of funds and the Translation College and Oriental Literature School were closed down. Zhang Yuanji then left Nanyang Public School and joined the Commercial Press, starting another major turning point in his life. From then on, he devoted all his energy to publishing until his death. The relationship between Zhang Yuanji and Mao Zedong began in September 1949. At that time, New China was about to be founded, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was held in Beijing. Zhang Yuanji, a patriotic old man who had made great contributions to China's modern publishing industry, attended the meeting as a special representative.
On September 19, 1949, Mao Zedong invited Zhang Yuanji to visit the Temple of Heaven, accompanied by Chen Yi, Liu Bocheng, Su Yu and others.
Everyone was in high spirits, chatting and laughing along the way
Mao Zedong, Zhang Yuanji and others visited the Temple of Heaven and took photos together. During the break, Mao Zedong asked Zhang Yuanji to sit next to him and asked him if he had been here when he was an official in Beijing in his early years. Zhang Yuanji smiled and replied: "This is the place where the emperor respects heaven. How can a small Beijing official like me come here?" Mao Zedong laughed heartily after hearing this. Mao Zedong also asked him about his early participation in the Reform Movement of 1898 and what happened when Guangxu summoned him. Speaking of the Commercial Press, Mao Zedong said that the books published by the Commercial Press were beneficial to the people. He had read the "Scientific Outline" published by the Commercial Press and gained a lot of knowledge from it. Mao Zedong also said that he always kept Ci Yuan on his desk when he was in Yan'an and read it often when writing. On the evening of October 11, 1949, Mao Zedong met with Zhang Yuanji at Zhongnanhai Yi Niantang and had dinner. Zhang Yuanji suggested to Mao Zedong that in order to prosper the country and make the people rich, agricultural production must be developed, and Mao Zedong agreed.
At the end of 1950, Zhang Yuanji learned that Tibet was peacefully liberated. With joy, he wrote four times to Mao Zedong, and successively sent "Poetry to Cun" "Snow-covered Western Frontier" and ancient poem "Tibet Liberation Song". Mao Zedong's reply letter spoke highly of these two poems. They communicated with each other more than ten times.
At the end of 1952, Shanghai was preparing to build a museum of culture and history, and the central government decided to invite Zhang Yuanji to be the director. But Zhang Yuanji did not agree because he was paralyzed in bed. In the spring of the following year, Mayor Chen Yi came to his bedside twice to convey Mao Zedong's instructions: "He must be the first director of the Shanghai Museum of Culture and History." He no longer declined.
In the spring of 1958, Premier Zhou Enlai visited Shanghai for an inspection and made a special trip to the hospital to visit Zhang Yuanji, whose condition was getting worse. When Zhou Enlai said to him, "The Chairman has asked me to come to visit you," Zhang Yuanji showed relief on his face. Zhang Yuanji died a year later. The Pacific War broke out and the "isolated island" of Shanghai fell. The headquarters of the Commercial Press had already been moved to the rear. The commercial publishing houses and factories in Shanghai were sealed. 4.6 million books and more than 50 tons of type were confiscated. When they were unsealed, only A small portion.
Zhang Yuanji still stayed there to support the crisis. He neither registered with the Japanese and puppet authorities, but also refused "joint ventures" and "cooperation" with the Japanese and puppet authorities, and only printed some old editions of books.
During the Republic of China, Zhang Yuanji and Ancient Books barely managed to stay in business. His own family situation became increasingly difficult, and even the few rare books he owned were sold one after another. Even so, he never thought of bowing his head. Around the beginning of 1942, two Japanese came to see Zhang Yuanji. He wrote on the back of each other's business cards, "The two countries are at war, it is inconvenient to talk" and refused to meet. He had a personal relationship with Wang Jingwei. In the 1920s, when he went to Guangzhou, Wang accompanied him to visit the Huanghuagang Martyrs' Tomb. After Wang cooperated with the Japanese, he no longer had any contact with them. When Wang's trustee brought him the "Shuangzhaolou Poetry Collection" co-authored with Chen Bijun, he sneered and ignored it.
At the suggestion of a relative, Zhang Yuanji started selling calligraphy. He wrote a letter to the manager of the Tianjin Commercial Library: "Everything in Shanghai is expensive and livelihood is very difficult. I will start selling calligraphy this year. "Du Yue." He made reference to the calligraphers' rules at that time and formulated a "Run Rules for Calligraphy". In addition to asking the commercial branches in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hangzhou to distribute the rules and collect the writings on their behalf, he also handed over the calligraphy to Rongbao. Zhai, Duoyunxuan, Jiuhuatang, Jiguge and other calligraphy and painting stores sell on consignment basis. At that time, he had a seal engraved with the words "The Wuxu Party Imprisoned the Relics". His grandson Zhang Renfeng remembered that every few days, he would write several calligraphy works on the dining table: "My grandfather used a large round inkstone. The bamboo pen holder was filled with large and small brushes. He wrote the most First, fold the cut rice paper into seven squares, spread several thick layers of newspaper on the dining table, then spread the rice paper flat, and then sometimes I stand by and watch him write. Standing opposite him, after writing a word, we helped move the paper forward. My grandfather had several couplet manuals and the like, and he chose words and sentences based on the identity and hobbies of the person asking for words. You can't talk if you are next to him. After you finish writing, you can ask him questions.
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Fu Shi, the governor of Zhejiang Province under the Wang Puppet Government, said that he was arty and asked a relative of Zhang Yuanji to send a scroll and ask him to inscribe it. He also attached a check for 110,000 yuan. He got the seal from the check. When he found out it was Fu Shi, he immediately refused, returned the check, and wrote a letter in which he said: "You are the governor of Zhejiang Province and have caused great harm to Zhejiang... so I dare not obey my order."